The Map Maker's Sister

by Matthew Krengel

  “Are you ready to die?” Averill asked.

  “I should ask the same of you, assassin,” Braun said with an easy smile. Their blades flashed with impossible speed as they lashed out at each other. Sparks of power erupted at each meeting of the weapons, and they weaved a battle of such power everyone gazed on in awe. Averill was the picture of power and savage fury as he struck with all his might time after time, forcing Braun to give ground.

  Braun smiled thinly as he turned aside blow after blow and slipped away each time the assassin thought he was trapped. The other blade destroyed tables with a single blow and harsh kicks sent the section of furniture into his path to try and trip him, but Braun easily avoided the obstacles. He had lived this type of battle a thousand times, honing his muscles and reactions until they came as naturally as breathing. He was outmatched in strength, and he knew it, so he relied on his reflexes and the natural grace of his body as he met the fury of the beast and turned it away.

  “What’s going on here?”

  The surprised shout stopped all movement for a heartbeat and Braun used the distraction to slip his sword under Averill’s guard and land a slashing blow against the other’s side. He knew he was going to pay for the strike as he accepted the smashing blow from the other’s free hand. Rolling with the force of the strike, he managed to lessen the ringing in his head and return to his feet with a small trickle of blood running from his nose.

  “Carvin,” Averill shouted as he clutched the wound on his side. It hurt worse than he would let the elf know, while his own blow seemed to have barely rattled his opponent. “Sound the alarm. They’re trying to free the prisoners.”

  “Carvin!” Jackie cried aloud. “Please help us.”

  The son of the viscount stood frozen as the two men with him pulled their muskets and joined the remaining Adherents trying to cover everyone with their weapons. He looked over to the pile of Adherents collapsed to the floor still unconscious from the blast of energy. The viscount was out leading the defense against the fires now threatening to destroy a large section of the city. Fires, Carvin knew, were aided by men loyal to him alone. He looked up at Jackie and could not fight the fact that he was in love with her. He didn’t know if she felt the same, but he knew there was nothing for him here, nothing but the abusive rants of a father who hated him.

  “I’m sorry,” Carvin muttered as he stared at Jackie. He noticed Averill’s face lit up, thinking he was apologizing to her for betraying her. Slowly he pulled both his pistol and his musket and leveled them across the room with steady hands at the man about his own age holding the red shield. Carvin saw him grimace and crouch behind the shield, trusting in it to protect him from what he knew was coming. “I’m truly sorry,” Carvin said again, but this time his eyes flickered once to Averill. He saw the assassin’s eyes widen as he shifted his musket ever so slightly and pulled the trigger. The ball of energy caught Averill square in the chest and sent him flying backwards into the wall. Carvin swung his pistol across and blasted the man standing beside him at such close range that he felt the numbing effect of the energy tingle across his hands and nearly dropped his pistol. The weapon contained four more charges, and he quickly rotated the cylinder and fired a shot that made one more Adherent crumple to the ground.

  Shouts of alarm erupted from those still standing, and Carvin ducked behind the remains of a table as the Adherents cried traitor.

  Braun nearly laughed as Averill went flying. He charged the cluster of Adherents still standing and went through them with his sword flashing. Suddenly the room went silent, and Braun looked over to Jacob. “Are you all right?”

  “I think we all are,” Jacob said as he reached back and helped Jane to her feet. He thought he saw a flash of something in Flying Cloud’s eyes, but his attention was drawn away.

  “Get some of the muskets. We should move,” Braun said. “We made enough noise to wake the dead.”

  Jacob retrieved several of the muskets and handed them to each of the women. Jane already knew how to use the weapon, and she took over showing Jackie and Flying Cloud how to arm the weapon and fire it.

  “How did you know we were going to be here?” Jacob asked Braun.

  “We didn’t,” Braun muttered. “Jane was taken by the assassin, and we were trying to rescue her. What worries me more is that, if the turncoat Adherent hadn’t helped us out, we would probably all be locked in a cell. The Brotherhood assassin was one of their best. I am not sure how much longer I would have been able to stay ahead of him.”

  “I’m not a turncoat!” Carvin blustered as he emerged from behind the destroyed table and then stopped. “Well, maybe I am but …”

  “I’m not complaining,” Braun replied. “All right, let’s move.”

  They all walked to the main door leading out into the fortress. Jane nervously gripped the musket. The weapon felt heavy in her hands, but she ran through the way she had been trained to arm it and knew it was ready. The courtyard between the three buildings was quiet, and they emerged and hurried towards the waiting ropes. Carvin was jogging next to Jackie, talking to her in hushed tones, and she smiled up at him several times.

  “Something’s wrong,” Braun said as they neared the barracks building that blocked them from the wall.

  Jane was about to answer when a shrill scream broke the silence of the night, and they all skidded to a halt. Around them in a rush of movement, scores of Adherents in black robes erupted from their hiding places and rushed to surrounded them. Viscount Lerod stepped outwards them, dragging the struggling form of Eriunia with him, his iron grip around her arm.

  “So, my own offspring betrays me and sides with the filth of the rebel trash,” Viscount Lerod growled. He threw Eriunia down to the ground before him and glared down at her. “What about it, elf. I don’t think we even need a trial. I sentence you to death for crimes against the temple.” He picked up one of the new style weapons and armed it. “You know what’s the best thing about these new muskets?” He worked some of the setting on the side of the weapon and then pointed it at Eriunia, who had rolled back until she was about ten feet from where Braun stood. “Instead of only stunning, we can set them to completely overload the target’s nervous system. I shoot you with it set on the highest setting, and your body will shut down. I saw one live target suffocate to death after being shot in the chest.” He aimed the weapon at Eriunia and laughed. “Goodbye, elf.”

  Braun lunged forward in a flash and rolled his body in front of Eriunia. The jolt of energy that struck him was twice the size of anything Jane had seen before, and she saw the look of shock that filled Braun’s face. The blast rolled out around him, but Eriunia was shielded from the worst of it and managed to crawl to his body when it landed.

  “You monster,” Eriunia cried. She cradled Braun’s head in her arms and shook his shoulders. “Please, Braun, don’t die. I can’t do this alone.”

  “I’m sorry my princess,” Braun managed to gasp as his body shook uncontrollably. “I tried.” With those words his eyes glazed over and lost focus. A moment later his lungs rattled violently and his breathing stopped.

  Jane stared in shock down at the body of the elf warrior who had so skillfully led the rebels across the decks of the Ironships and had been such a help in such a short time. In a jostling of movement the Adherents pushed forward. Jackie, Jacob, and Carvin were all clustered nearby with their muskets still pointed outwards. Jane grabbed Eriunia by the shoulders and pulled her back from Braun’s body. Flying Cloud was crouched near Jacob’s feet, and Jane could see her fingers moving. She shoved both hands inside her bandolier bag and seemed to be ready to carry on the fight.

  “Make her stop, or I’ll shoot her too,” Viscount Lerod growled as he leveled his rifle on Flying Cloud.

  Jacob stepped in front of her with his shield held before him, “I will kill you if it’s the last thing I ever do.”

  “Good luck, boy,” Viscount Lerod laughed as he pulled the trigger. A great ball of energy flashed across
the space between them and struck the shield. Instead of knocking Jacob to the ground, the flash of energy pulsed out around the small group and washed over the Adherents behind them. The viscount’s eyes widened as eight of his men crumbled to the ground and lay trembling uncontrollably.

  Jacob angled his shield as he saw the rage forming in the viscount’s face, and he managed to direct the blasts of energy away from them and across the Adherents. The effects were almost instantaneous—many of them fell to the ground, knocked senseless by the energy while others turned and fled.

  “Bah, worthless weapon,” Viscount Lerod roared. He threw the rifle to the ground and pulled a massive broadsword from the sheath at his side.

  Jane saw him rush Jacob, and she saw Jacob raise his shield against a tremendous overhand blow. Sparks erupted from the shield, and Jacob cried out in pain as he was driven back and thrown to the ground. Chaos erupted around her, and Carvin began to methodically pick off the Adherents still on their feet. Wild shots from Jackie’s musket careened off the buildings and added to the confusion. Here and there Adherents threw up their hands and slumped to the ground as feathered shafts flashed out of the night and struck them with perfect precision. Jane turned to see the viscount raising his massive sword once again, and Jacob struggled to raise his shield. Jacob’s sword lay on the ground at her feet. Jane leaned over to pick it up.

  “Time to die, boy,” Viscount Lerod said with a deep, booming laugh. Suddenly his eyes went wide and he gasped in pain.

  Jane pushed the blade into the viscount’s back as hard as she could. She heard him start to laugh at Jacob and then stop. The sword went in slowly, and she shoved with all her might, sending it completely through him. To her surprise he did not fall to the ground but instead turned slowly to face her.

  “You little brat,” Viscount Lerod muttered. His sword slumped to the ground on arms that no longer had the strength to hold it. He clutched around his back trying to grab the weapon and remove it but finally gave up and grabbed Jane’s shoulders. “I can still kill you.”

  Jane pushed as hard as she could against the iron grip but found she was trapped against it. Ever so slowly Viscount Lerod pulled her towards the tip of the sword sticking through the front of his chest. Suddenly he stiffened once again, and the strength completely left his arms. Jane managed to pull away. The bloody blade had been an inch from her chest.

  “This is for my mother,” Carvin whispered in his estranged father’s ear. “I hope you burn forever for what you did to her.” He pushed his belt knife in until it finally found the still beating heart of the man who claimed to be his father. The claim may have been true but in Carvin’s mind he had no father, only a mother who had loved him unconditionally.

  Slowly the viscount tumbled to the ground face first and lay there without moving. The courtyard was quiet for the first time, and Jane looked around her at the general destruction.

  “We should go,” Carvin muttered finally. He picked up the rifle his father had thrown aside and turned the setting back to stun.

  “I agree,” Jacob said as he stood up and tried to move his shoulder. He winced as the partially dislocated joint popped back into place.

  The five of them hurried to the wall where the two rebels waited, guarding the ropes that were their only escape. There was a rustle of wind and a rush of movement, and Yerdarva landed on the wall nearby and looked at them. Jane saw blood and streaks of black on her hide but the dragon seemed still spoiling for the fight.

  “You need to go quickly,” Yerdarva cried. She paused to send a line of liquid flame into the gate house and block the rush of Adherents who were trying to level their weapons at her. “The fire from the ships I cannot withstand, and they’re starting to find their ranges.” To punctuate her words, a roar of energy and a massive ball of magical power struck a nearby building. Moments later two more conventional iron cannon balls smashed into the walls near the gate house and sent bits of rock flying high into the air.

  “I’ll clear you a path to the west,” Yerdarva said as she jumped down into the courtyard and engulfed one of the barracks buildings completely in fire. “Take one of the smaller ships and flee. We have struck a hard blow today, and it won’t go unnoticed.”

  “Thank you,” Jacob said to her as he helped the others climb down the ropes to the streets below.

  “Do not waste this chance,” Yerdarva said. “It’ll take me many days to replenish my energy, so you won’t see me again for some time.” With those words she leapt up and took to the air as flames roared out of control throughout the barracks and the fortress.

  Chapter 18

  Running the Divide

  “Follow me,” Carvin said. “I can lead you through the backstreets to a boat big enough for all of us.”

  “He’s still an Adherent,” Jacob muttered as he let go of the rope and glared at Carvin. “Why should we trust him?”

  “He just helped stop his own father, Jacob,” Jane replied with a shake of her head. “He just saved my life.”

  “You heard the assassin,” Jacob shot back. “Someone betrayed the rebellion and told them that Eriunia and others were coming today. Who else knew?”

  “This is hardly the time for long-winded explanations,” Carvin said calmly. He pointed to the castle wall and continued. “They’re not going to wait long to begin searching for us.” Another round of cannon fire roared overhead, chasing after the swooping form of Yerdarva as she turned entire streets into masses of liquid fire.

  “Come on. Tasker can find us on his own,” Jane said as she motioned for Carvin to take the lead. She took Jacob’s hand and pulled him along. “Come on. We don’t have time to discuss this right now.” Behind them Flying Cloud and Eriunia were standing close to each other, and Jane thought she saw a twinge of jealousy in the other girl’s eyes. The last two rebels were coming down the ropes now and a scattering of shouts came from inside the fortress.

  Jane followed Carvin as he hurried from street to alley, taking a moment to look around each corner before rushing headlong out into the open. They passed through areas where the fires still raged wildly out of control and brigades of people pumped water from wells, trying to contain the flames. Hurried looks and calls for help followed them, but they steadfastly held to their course and were soon overlooking a short dock sticking out in the water. The lake was calm despite the chaos around them. Tied to the dock was a large fishing vessel with a small mast and enough room for all of them to stand on the deck.

  “Hurry,” Carvin said. He motioned for all them to them jump across the space while he cut the rope holding the vessel against the pier. He gave a hard shove as he launched his own body across the growing gap and then reached up and untied the leather straps holding the sail in place. Immediately the breeze moving across the water caught the thick canvas cloth and pulled them away from the shore.

  “What about Tasker,” Jane asked. She didn’t want the short leader of the rebellion to be trapped on shore.

  “I think he has a different plan to escape,” Eriunia replied. The wind pushed them west, and they stayed with the breeze, trying to make the run to shore as quickly as they could. They were over half way to the lake shore when the first signs of trouble appeared behind them on the water.

  “Ironship coming into view,” Eriunia shouted suddenly. She pointed back to where the massive iron vessel was powering through the water towards them. “They’re closing on us way too fast.”

  “I agree. I don’t think we can outrun them,” Carvin muttered. “We might end up swimming the last hundred yards.”

  “The water is a little cold for that,” Jacob replied with a shake of his head. “Without something to keep us warm, we’d never make it.”

  “We may not have a choice,” Carvin said. Suddenly there was a massive roar from the distant ship, and a great plume of water erupted next to them as the cannon ball struck the lake and bounded across the water.

  “Jane, here,” Eriunia pulled the map and pen from her p
ocket and handed them to Jane. “Go. Save your sister. Tasker said the anchors are attached to the map. Jacob still has his ring. All of you can be safe.”

  “No. We’re not leaving you until we know everyone’s safe,” Jane retorted. She took her map fondly and tucked it half way into her pocket.

  “I wonder if I can take someone with me through the Divide?” Jacob said suddenly. There was another loud crack, and Carvin yanked the wheel to the right, trying to throw off the aim of the gunners behind them. This time the cannon ball cut through the air overhead and skipped along the shore until it impacted a granite ledge and exploded with a massive ball of fire.

  “Try it with me first,” Bella piped up as she hurried to where Jacob was standing. She held out her arms to him and waited to be picked up.

  “Are you sure about this?” Jane said as she watched Jacob pick up the fairy. His face was set and his eyes hard with determination.

  “If we stay here much longer they’ll have our range, and it won’t make a difference,” Jacob replied. “We die here or we die in the water. Your map doesn’t reach to this area, but my anchor is still on Tasker’s map.”

  Jane wrapped her arms around him once and gave him a long hug. When she broke away, she nodded and said, “Good luck.”

  “Hold on tight,” Jacob said to Bella. As he vanished into the Divide, he heard the cannon bark again. This time a great spray of water erupted, and shouts of alarm came from those still on board the fishing vessel.

  “Uph,” Jacob grunted as the darkness of the Divide closed in around them and seemed to be physically battling them both. He could feel his strength sapping as he dove headlong through the grand map before him and fell with a thud to the rocky ground. They had jumped less than five hundred yards and still he felt winded.

  “Get under cover,” he told Bella. “I will be right back.”

  “Good luck,” Bella shouted as she ran to the shelter of the strong cliffs beyond the shore.